Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
J Psychopharmacol. 2022 Aug;36(8):951-955. doi: 10.1177/02698811221077194. Epub 2022 May 5.
Nitrous oxide (NO) is a frequently used anaesthetic. Since the year 2000, recreational use of NO, also known as 'laughing gas', became popular as a recreational drug due to its mild effect. In the 1980s, several reports warned against NO-induced reproductive risks among healthcare personnel, questioning the occupational safety of NO in health care.
Data about the reproductive risks of NO were collected from literature.
Particularly in the past, professionals working in dental and midwifery practices, operating theatres and ambulance transport were exposed to high levels of NO. Adverse reproduction effects included congenital anomalies, spontaneous abortion and reduced fertility rates in females. Following occupational measures, like maximal exposure limits for ambient NO, this occupational risk was considerably reduced. Recreational users of NO, however, voluntarily and repeatedly expose themselves to (very) high doses of NO. As such, they exceed the health exposure limits some hundred times, but they are fully unaware of the related reproductive risks.
We advocate to increase the awareness in recreational N2O-users about its potential reproductive risks, especially in heavy users, pregnant users or those who intend to become pregnant.
一氧化二氮（NO）是一种常用的麻醉剂。自 2000 年以来，由于其轻度效应，作为一种娱乐性药物，俗称“笑气”的一氧化二氮的娱乐用途变得流行。20 世纪 80 年代，有几份报告警告医护人员接触一氧化二氮可能带来生殖风险，质疑医疗保健中一氧化二氮的职业安全性。
从文献中收集关于一氧化二氮生殖风险的数据。
特别是在过去，牙科和助产士诊所、手术室和救护车运输行业的专业人员接触到高水平的一氧化二氮。不良生殖影响包括先天畸形、自然流产和女性生育能力下降。通过职业措施，如环境一氧化二氮的最大暴露限值，可以大大降低这种职业风险。然而，一氧化二氮的娱乐使用者自愿且反复暴露于（非常）高剂量的一氧化二氮下。因此，他们的接触超过健康暴露限值数百倍，但他们完全没有意识到相关的生殖风险。
我们主张提高娱乐性一氧化二氮使用者对其潜在生殖风险的认识，特别是在重度使用者、孕妇或计划怀孕者中。
